The article gives an account of the main ideas of the author’s book containing a comparative analysis of the development of social democracy in Sweden and Norway in the 20th century. The social democratic order is seen as an order in its own right, which is something between a communist and a capitalist order. Emphasis is laid on the development of social integration, industry, welfare and democracy. The latter follows from the rejection of the totalitarian threats from both left and right. Around 1960 social democracy reaches its “happy moment”. A period of criticism follows in which the old ideal of “equality” is replaced by the ideal of “freedom” and that of “unity” by “variety”. The sense of having found the road to a better future fades along with some of the characteristic traits of social democracy.